The Philosophy Department at Southampton is a vibrant and welcoming place to do research, boasting a wide range of specialisms. In the last REF (national ranking of research institutions), Southampton was ranked 4th in the UK for producing research which was world-leading or internationally excellent. Among the many subjects we offer PhD supervision in are the following: History of Philosophy (especially 19th Century German Philosophy); Aesthetics; Wittgenstein and Early Analytic Philosophy; Ethics; Epistemology; and Metaphysics.
In addition to specialist seminars and guided tutorials, students will have access to such topics as academic writing and conference organisation. If students have gaps in their knowledge at the outset of the research programme, they can gain additional grounding by joining one of the taught Masters programmes.
Career opportunities are wide ranging and varied. A PhD in Philosophy from Southampton is an excellent preparation for an academic career. The transferable skills, such as critical awareness; cultural awareness; communication and presentational abilities; deadline and project management are highly valuable for a wide range of professions which include teaching, arts administration, journalism and local and national government administration.
Postgraduate Admissions Tutor
Professor Genia Schoenbaumsfeld
Email: G.M.E.Schoenbaumsfeld@soton.ac.uk
View the doctoral programme profile for this course
To Apply
Application process and required supporting documents
- University online application including a personal statement
- Research proposal
- Transcript
- 2 references
- English language certification (if relevant)
- 2 samples of work: applicants should supply two pieces of written work of between 3,000 and 7,000 words, at least one which must be on a topic closely related to their proposed PhD topic
Candidates are advised to contact prospective supervisors with the subject of their proposed research prior to application.
Contact for postgraduate enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)23 8059 7433
fah-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk
www.southampton.ac.uk/philosophy
Key facts
Duration: Up to 4 years (full time); up to 7 years (part time)
Assessment: Thesis (max. 75,000 words), viva voce
Intake: Normally September and January each year
Closing date: 3 months before start date (also dependent on funding body deadlines); an application decision cannot be guaranteed in time for programme commencement unless a complete application is received in good time - students requiring a visa to study should also allow extra time for visa processes; informal enquiries welcome at any time
Other University of Southampton sites
Typical entry requirements
Academic entry requirements: First or upper second class honours degree and normally Masters at Merit* level, or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University in Philosophy or a cognate discipline.
(*Merit 60%-69%, Distinction 70%+)
English language entry requirements: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in all components, or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University.
Selection process
Selection process: Online application and interview
Applications will be assessed under the following
- Evidence of general academic aptitude
- Preparedness or promise for doctoral research
- Quality of the research project proposal
- Fit with Southampton's research expertise
Applicant Quality: Your application will be judged against the following criteria:
- it provides evidence that you meet our entry requirements
- it demonstrates your personal suitability and commitment to undertake Doctoral study
- it provides supportive references that indicate your suitability to undertake a PhD
- it presents a well-focused and high quality research proposal which indicates potential to contribute original research to the discipline
- it demonstrates critical awareness of the scholarly field to which the research will contribute, and appropriate methods to carry out this work
- it may strengthen your application if you can demonstrate genuine interest in working with a named academic in the department
Personal Statement: Use your Personal Statement to provide additional information relevant to your application. This should include the following:
- outline your reasons for wishing to conduct postgraduate research in your chosen area
- explain how your proposed research matches the research environment and supervisory expertise offered by Philosophy at Southampton
- reflect on how your education, skills, and experience will equip you for PhD study and to undertake your planned research
- indicate details of any other achievements/interests
- indicate any special circumstances pertaining to the academic record
- tell us what you hope to get from the programme
This page contains specific entry requirements for this course. Find out about
equivalent
entry requirements and qualifications for your country.
Tuition fees
Fees for postgraduate research degrees vary across the University. All fees are listed for UK and international full-time and part-time students alphabetically by course name.
List of tuition fees for this course and it's variationsCourse Title | Award | Year of entry | Mode of study | UK/EU | International |
---|
Philosophy | PhD | 2023 | Full-time | £4,596 | £18,600 |
Philosophy | PhD | 2023 | Part-time | £2,298 | £9,300 |
Philosophy (distance learning) | PhD | 2022 | Full-time | £4,596 | £18,600 |
Philosophy (distance learning) | PhD | 2022 | Part-time | £2,298 | £9,300 |
View the full list of course feesScholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.
Explore funding opportunities